2011 NFL Offseason

[Banedon]

Peter King actually linked to a Bill Simmons article today, and it really is well done.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110304

[Magnetic Curses]

Peter King actually linked to a Bill Simmons article today, and it really is well done.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110304

 

i read that a couple days ago. the only part of the analogy that doesn't work for me is that his writers would have had no way of knowing going into it that typing away on a computer would have caused early death, whereas football players absolutely know.

[Banedon]

Peter King actually linked to a Bill Simmons article today, and it really is well done.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110304

 

i read that a couple days ago. the only part of the analogy that doesn't work for me is that his writers would have had no way of knowing going into it that typing away on a computer would have caused early death, whereas football players absolutely know.

 

What I took from that was the parallel of pretending to care about employee safety while simultaneously asking for the employee to do more of this known unsafe activity. But admittedly, that wasn't my favorite point.

[Magnetic Curses]

yeah, it was a minor point.

[Tracer Bullet]

on the plus side, if there's a lockout and ochocinco mans up, tommyz is going to knock him the F out

 

http://www.facebook.com/tommyzbikowski

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/07/zbikowski-challenges-ochocinco-to-a-four-round-boxing-match/

[Banedon]

wtf....Tiki Barber is unretiring.

[snoodmonger]

According to this article, 22% of NFL players are living paycheck-to-paycheck.

[shnsajax]

According to this article, 22% of NFL players are living paycheck-to-paycheck.

 

Living in paycheck to paycheck in a $15,000 monthly mortgage payment, $2,000 monthly car payment, and not being able to make it rain at The Gold Club.

[Tracer Bullet]

i have some sympathy for their situation. i'm not sure i spent my money all that wisely at 21-23 (or 33?) years old and it was .000001% of what they have. plus i had great parents, some good teachers, friends, etc and an accounting degree at the time, where many of these guys haven't done any school work since they were 12 and many don't have the best parents or other outside influences to help them out.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Looks to be heading toward a lock-out or decertification...either way, looks like no football.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6201349

[RynoRules]

If the tweet by the NFL spokes-guy is to be believed (that the Union hasn't responded to any of the owners written proposals), this is a VERY dangerous game that the NFLPA is playing. They'd better be right about the anti-trust issue, because often times in negotiating when you back your opponent into a corner you leave them no choice but to fight their way out.

[Banedon]

Looks to be heading toward a lock-out or decertification...either way, looks like no football.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6201349

 

Not necessarily true. Decertification would mean that there'd be a lawsuit when the owners try to lockout, and there's a strong chance that it'd be ruled that the owners would have to abide by the previous CBA. It'll be messy, but there could be football without a CBA.

[Tracer Bullet]

If the tweet by the NFL spokes-guy is to be believed (that the Union hasn't responded to any of the owners written proposals), this is a VERY dangerous game that the NFLPA is playing. They'd better be right about the anti-trust issue, because often times in negotiating when you back your opponent into a corner you leave them no choice but to fight their way out.

 

agreed. unless their proposals are beyond the realm of reason, not even having the courtesy to respond typically elicits a pretty aggressive response. not often a successful strategy when your opponent actually has the money to fight.

[davell]

Smith appears to be readying the players to decertify, but evidently has the ability to move quite a bit today, according to PFT. As long as they're still talking, I think there's hope for an agreement. Seems like Smith is playing up the decertification card as much as possible to keep things from getting too far away from where they want to be.

[davell]

Owners last offer was basically splitting the difference(unsure if that was from beginning of talks or whether they split from where they were heading into today). That said, it looks like the plan is still to decertify as the NFLPA evidently thinks they're going to get a better deal through the courts than they would from bargaining.

[Formerly Snayke]

Decertification is on.

[mul21]

Just got this from the NFL:

 

Dear NFL Fan,

 

When I wrote to you last on behalf of the NFL, we promised you that we would work tirelessly to find a collectively bargained solution to our differences with the players' union. Subsequent to that letter to you, we agreed that the fastest way to a fair agreement was for everyone to work together through a mediation process. For the last three weeks I have personally attended every session of mediation, which is a process our clubs sincerely believe in.

 

Unfortunately, I have to tell you that earlier today the players' union walked away from mediation and collective bargaining and has initiated litigation against the clubs. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, our clubs offered a deal today that was, among other things, designed to have no adverse financial impact on veteran players in the early years, and would have met the players’ financial demands in the latter years of the agreement.

 

The proposal we made included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee a reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

 

It was a deal that offered compromise, and would have ensured the well-being of our players and guaranteed the long-term future for the fans of the great game we all love so much. It was a deal where everyone would prosper.

 

We remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached, and call on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table.

 

While we are disappointed with the union's actions, we remain steadfastly committed to reaching an agreement that serves the best interest of NFL players, clubs and fans, and thank you for your continued support of our League. First and foremost it is your passion for the game that drives us all, and we will not lose sight of this as we continue to work for a deal that works for everyone.

 

 

 

Yours,

Roger Goodell

[davell]

Evidently, if Doty rules tonight on the decertification, then it's possible Free Agency starts at midnight? This is awesome.

[BigSlick]

roger goodell is the worst kind of snake oil salesman i dont trust a word that comes from his mouth

[Guest]

roger goodell is the worst kind of snake oil salesman i dont trust a word that comes from his mouth

 

He's basically saying what the owners tell him to say because he's employed by them, right? So he doesn't really have a choice in the matter?

 

If so, I don't see what else he can do. If not, then ignore this post.

[minnesotacubsfan]

go NFLPA go

[RynoRules]

This is a poor strategy by the NFLPA and the players, IMO. The vast majority of the players don't have nearly enough money to outlast the owners. For most of the owners, football isn't their primary business or money-maker. Those guys have gobs of liquidity that the players simply do not have. If the owners want to (and I don't know that they do) they can carry the players several rounds in federal court via the anti-trust suit.

 

The players are hoping that the suit itself will cause the owners to back down because - unlike in collective bargaining - the owners will likely face a court order to disclose detailed financial records for all 32 teams. In other words, in the context of collective bargaining the employer doesn't have to open it's books unless it says, "We can't afford to pay you what you are asking for", or some statement similar to that. However, in the context of an anti-trust suit, the players are probably going to be able to get their hands on the financial records via the discovery process. Even if the owners refuse to volunteer the records as part of that process, the players will likely be able compel disclosure of the records by motioning the court. The owners can of course apply tried and true litigation tactics to delay this disclosure, but eventually it's going to happen. I think that issue is where "the rubber meets the road" in this case and it's what the players are counting on in order to leverage more money out of the owners.

[dew1679666265]

This is a poor strategy by the NFLPA and the players, IMO. The vast majority of the players don't have nearly enough money to outlast the owners. For most of the owners, football isn't their primary business or money-maker. Those guys have gobs of liquidity that the players simply do not have. If the owners want to (and I don't know that they do) they can carry the players several rounds in federal court via the anti-trust suit.

 

Keep in mind also that the TV deals the NFL signed will be paid out even if there is no football this year. So while the players are sitting at home gaining little to no income, the owners are still drawing in plenty of revenue.

 

I don't see how the players can win a standoff with the owners.

[Mark Priors Calves]

This is a poor strategy by the NFLPA and the players, IMO. The vast majority of the players don't have nearly enough money to outlast the owners. For most of the owners, football isn't their primary business or money-maker. Those guys have gobs of liquidity that the players simply do not have. If the owners want to (and I don't know that they do) they can carry the players several rounds in federal court via the anti-trust suit.

 

Keep in mind also that the TV deals the NFL signed will be paid out even if there is no football this year. So while the players are sitting at home gaining little to no income, the owners are still drawing in plenty of revenue.

 

I don't see how the players can win a standoff with the owners.

 

I thought the TV revenue deal for '11 was struck down by a judge recently.

[dew1679666265]

This is a poor strategy by the NFLPA and the players, IMO. The vast majority of the players don't have nearly enough money to outlast the owners. For most of the owners, football isn't their primary business or money-maker. Those guys have gobs of liquidity that the players simply do not have. If the owners want to (and I don't know that they do) they can carry the players several rounds in federal court via the anti-trust suit.

 

Keep in mind also that the TV deals the NFL signed will be paid out even if there is no football this year. So while the players are sitting at home gaining little to no income, the owners are still drawing in plenty of revenue.

 

I don't see how the players can win a standoff with the owners.

 

I thought the TV revenue deal for '11 was struck down by a judge recently.

 

Ah, hadn't heard that. Owners are still in a much better position, but that definitely helps the players some.